D.C. Churches Report 20% Drop in Attendance Amid Immigration Fears

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) D.C. churches that serve large immigrant communities report a sudden, steep drop in attendance in August, with parish leaders pointing to fear of immigration enforcement as the main driver. Over the past two weekends, attendance at Catholic parishes and other immigrant-heavy churches fell by about 20%, with some Masses shrinking from roughly 2,500 to fewer than 2,000 people.

Church leaders say the falloff began soon after President Trump’s August 11, 2025 order federalized the D.C. police force and brought National Guard troops into the city, and after federal changes removed prior limits on immigration enforcement near places of worship.

Several parishioners describe the change as immediate and personal. On August 17, 2025, an usher at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart was detained on the way to serve at Mass, according to parish leaders. Several other parishioners active in church life were also picked up that week, including people in marriage preparation and confirmation classes. At least seven Sacred Heart parishioners are now in detention, church staff said.

In the days that followed, a special event that normally draws several hundred people—the ecumenical celebration for St. Óscar Romero—dropped to just over 200 attendees. WhatsApp groups and Facebook threads run by parish volunteers filled with messages warning of agent sightings and urging people to stay home. The result has been emptier pews and quieter church courtyards.

Policy shifts and legal fallout

The enforcement climate in the city changed quickly after a series of federal decisions and guidance updates.

• On August 11, 2025, the White House announced the federalization of the D.C. police and the deployment of National Guard troops, citing concerns about crime and homelessness.
• The administration also rolled back a Biden-era policy that treated churches and other “sensitive locations” as off-limits for immigration arrests in all but the most urgent cases.

The earlier guidance, known informally as the Mayorkas Memorandum, had required written supervisory approval for actions in or near places like churches, schools, and hospitals. That protection was removed in January, and the Department of Homeland Security now allows enforcement in or near places of worship, instructing officers to use discretion but no longer requiring written sign-off.

Religious groups sued the administration, arguing that allowing routine immigration enforcement at houses of worship violates the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. A federal judge ruled against the churches in March; the decision was narrow and left the door open to future lawsuits if evidence shows targeted actions or a disproportionate impact on religious practice.

Faith leaders say the new fear in D.C. churches is exactly the type of burden on worship they warned about. Interfaith groups point to the specific detentions tied to parish life and the visible presence of officers near church buildings as proof that the policy change chills religious exercise, even without agents stepping into sanctuaries.

“Fear is not a strategy for safety.”
— Phrase echoed by interfaith leaders in public statements

In interviews and public statements, pastors and parish staff describe a new normal: marked patrol cars near church corners, unmarked vehicles noted by ushers, and a steady stream of messages from members asking whether it is safe to attend Mass or Bible study.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the rescission of prior “sensitive locations” protections has produced widespread confusion about where enforcement is likely, which in turn discourages attendance and routine participation in parish programs. That confusion, leaders say, is heightened by the federalization of local policing, which makes it harder for immigrant families to tell which uniformed officers are present and why.

For official policy updates and enforcement guidance, the government directs the public to the Department of Homeland Security. The agency’s public information pages describe enforcement priorities and link to notices and memos that shape field actions. Readers can find those resources on the official DHS site at https://www.dhs.gov. Church leaders say they are sharing these links with parishioners while also reminding them that online rumors can spread faster than facts.

Impact on worship and community life

The attendance decline is uneven across the metro area.

• Central D.C. neighborhoods with large immigrant populations—Columbia Heights and Petworth—report the sharpest drop.
• Suburban churches in Maryland say their weekends look closer to normal, with some parishes reporting little change.
• Denominational differences appear: Catholic and mainline Protestant congregations describe a noticeable falloff and rising anxiety, while several Seventh-day Adventist churches report steadier attendance.

The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, a longtime hub for immigrant families, usually hosts six Masses in Spanish, two in English, and additional services in Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole. Staff say some catechetical classes and community events have moved to smaller satellite sites or online formats to give anxious families options.

• Ushers have been asked to keep an eye on entrances.
• Doors are locked more often.
• Pastoral teams are texting families to check in on those who stopped showing up.

Rev. Emilio Biosca Agüero has told parishioners that the church will continue to offer spiritual care while it works on safety plans and legal referrals. Other pastors echo that approach:

• Rev. Anthony Parrott of The Table Church said the congregation is adjusting outreach to reduce risk for those who are worried.
• Debra Anderson of the Seventh-day Adventists described varied attendance patterns across different neighborhoods.

Church WhatsApp channels—once used mainly for ride shares and prayer requests—now carry location reports about federal agents and warnings about detentions near bus stops and church parking lots. Leaders caution that not every alert is accurate, but even unconfirmed posts can keep families at home.

An interfaith coalition stepped forward last week with a joint statement blasting the surge of law enforcement and the federal takeover of local policing. On August 20, 2025, bishops, rabbis, and pastors—including Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington—said “fear is not a strategy for safety” and called for limits on enforcement in and around houses of worship.

The coalition’s actions and demands included:

• Vigils outside immigration courts
• Calls for release of those detained in connection with church activities
• Requests for greater transparency
• Appeals for the National Guard to play no role in detentions or removals

Community responses and support actions

Church networks and faith coalitions are stepping in to fill gaps and reduce harm.

• Hosting “know your rights” sessions
• Distributing lists of trusted legal aid groups
• Setting up pastoral support for children whose parents were detained
• Expanding volunteer rosters for court support and family care (Congregation Action Network; Latino Christian National Network)
• Coordinating rapid-response updates and prayer vigils (D.C. Interfaith Network for Immigrant Justice)

Practical measures in many parishes:

• Real-time updates about service locations and entry procedures on parish social media and WhatsApp
• Staff and volunteers accompanying members to essential church events when requested
• Shift of some ministries to small-group meetings in homes or parish annexes
• Legal information tables after Mass to connect families with pro bono support quickly

Behind the headlines is a familiar story for immigrant communities. Families who once found comfort and protection inside parish walls now weigh the risk of a ride to Mass. Parents debate whether to send teens to youth group. A choir member chooses to practice by phone.

Ministers say the loss is not only about numbers on a weekend; it is about the frayed fabric of trust that keeps a community together. When attendance drops, the human chain that supports newly arrived families—rides, meals, child care, job leads—weaken too.

Legal outlook and what leaders advise

The legal fight will continue. Religious groups are preparing new challenges, lawyers say—especially if more evidence emerges that enforcement is targeting churchgoers or that actions near churches have an outsized effect on worship.

The administration has signaled that firm enforcement will remain a hallmark, even as faith leaders and local officials call for restraint. Any further policy shifts may depend on how the public debate develops—and whether courts find new grounds to narrow where and how enforcement can happen.

For now, pastors and lay leaders are focused on practical steps for parishioners:

1. Stay in close touch with your parish office for official updates.
2. Rely on official announcements rather than unverified social media rumors.
3. Use alternative locations or online services if you feel unsafe traveling to a main campus.
4. If a loved one is detained:
   • Contact trusted legal aid quickly.
   • Let parish staff know if children or elders need support while the case proceeds.
5. Members with secure status are asked to keep showing up, volunteering, and checking on neighbors whose attendance has dropped.

Attendance numbers will be watched closely in the coming weeks. Clergy say:

• If enforcement remains heavy around church corridors, they expect further declines.
• If detentions ease and communication improves, leaders hope to see a slow return.

What is clear is that the mix of visible law enforcement, the rollback of prior limits on church-area actions, and the drumbeat of detention stories has changed the way many immigrant families see Sunday. For a city where churches have long been havens, that shift carries a cost felt far beyond the nave.